| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JDOG1010 |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 20:13:30
I am looking to buy a radar gun, but i need a reasonably priced one. Does anyone know a good cheap radar gun? |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bballman |
Posted - 03/03/2009 : 08:19:40
I have used a radar gun to measure my pitchers progress throughout the year. I'll gun them in the biginning of the season, middle and end. Also use it to guage the difference between fastball and changeup. Has been an effective tool.
I know kids will try to "bow up" at times when the see the gun. But guess what? When they do that, the speed of the pitch slows down. I use that as a teaching tool as well. My son who is a freshman in HS this year was pitching in a lesson in January prior to HS tryouts. Throwing with an ex minor league AAA player in the box. All fastballs cruising 81-82. After throwing a breaking ball inside we told him to bust a fastball outside. He tried throwing it super hard. Next two pitches high and outside, 78-79. A drop of 4mph. Good thing for him to know that in a game situation, he should not try to overthow in certain situations. You do that, mechanics suffer, location suffers and velocity suffers. Told him to throw another with his normal smooth effort and he bounced back up to 82.
It is still a good training tool if used the right way. I would never gun every pitch of every game. Like I said earlier, I used it 3x per year to measure progress. |
| biged |
Posted - 03/02/2009 : 20:12:00
Mike makes some interesting points about radar gun uses, however, I feel that there are better ways to calibrate a pitcher getting tired then the use of a radar gun. Lose of control or more specifically, the balls getting up in the zone. If a kid sees a radar gun or there is rumored that a radar gun is in the vicinity the pitcher will almost always change their approach. If u really want to protect a pitcher's arm look up the American Pediatric recommended pitch count. It will amaze you as how few pitches that is safely suggested. It is almost always the "big strong kid" who is over used. The theory is that these kids can throw more because they don't have to work as hard or they can throw more because they further along in their physical development then other kids their same age. or maybe they have hit puberty. These assumptions can lead to over use.
A pitcher's arm is like a tire. They only have so many miles in them. U can use them up now or later. Less is more when it comes to pitching. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 03/02/2009 : 10:10:04
Biged,
You are right if that is the way they are developed (always being show what they are throwing and making them feel that it's speed, not location and pitch selection that is important.)
However, as Mike mentioned, there is an alternate use that can be beneficial. The challenge is to stay on that task and not get into a "Well he was throwing ### today." |
| Mike Corbin |
Posted - 03/02/2009 : 09:23:46
We use a radar gun starting at a young age. However, we do not tell the kids or share their speeds. We use it mostly to track when they start loosing MPH, or esentially when they start to get tired. We always have the kids on a pitch count as well. Some kids are just stronger and have better mechanics to go deeper in to games. So we just use it as an additional information tool for the coaches. |
| CinReds |
Posted - 03/01/2009 : 01:08:42
quote:
Originally posted by biged
I believe that the best way to screw up a kid w/ a good arm is to put up a radar gun in his face. They will always over throw, lose mechanics, and lose the focus of true pitching (location, location, location).
I agree - what is the point if you're under HS age at the least? |
| CinReds |
Posted - 03/01/2009 : 01:05:15
quote:
Originally posted by greglomax
The Bushnell Velocity Speed Radar Gun may not be a GREAT radar gun but it is relatively accurate (+/- a few MPH compared to the others). I have one and it works fine. I have checked it by driving down the road with the speedometer set at a constant speed and shoot the sign of an overpass or sign on the side of the road. It is very accurate. For the money it works great.
Do you have a calibrated speedometer? |
| longhorn1 |
Posted - 02/28/2009 : 22:08:22
The harder the pitcher throws (older groups) the greateer the difference. How old is your team? Also lower pitches read faster...they are using gravity more. I always lookes harder against the stalker next to a juggs. I have no clue? Any help? 10-15 foot radius behind the catcher or pitcher should all be consistent. |
| biged |
Posted - 02/28/2009 : 20:01:26
I believe that the best way to screw up a kid w/ a good arm is to put up a radar gun in his face. They will always over throw, lose mechanics, and lose the focus of true pitching (location, location, location). |
| bballman |
Posted - 02/28/2009 : 18:00:44
I have a juggs which measures the same as a stalker. It has read 5 mph faster than a bushnell a guy I saw using. We were about 20-30 feet behind a backstop on a HS field. Exactly 5 mph difference every time. My son was clocked on the juggs on a Sunday, on Friday, he was clocked on a Stalker. Same reading. |
| longhorn1 |
Posted - 02/27/2009 : 22:55:39
The Bushnell is consistent. The the higher priced Juggs and Stalker brands are more accurate and will read a slightly higher mph as they have a stronger doppler signal. The stronger signal picks the ball up sooner. (The ball starts to slow down immediatelly after release.) We use the gun as just a measuring stick / indicator for each kid. Either works great for that. Also if working in doors beware of mercury vapor and florescent lighting as they can sometimes throw up an inaccurate number. |
| GABaseBallDad |
Posted - 02/25/2009 : 08:43:20
Look at Pepboys Auto - for V-Day they had them under $100.00 - or look here:
http://www.shopbushnell.com/detail/BSN+101911 |
| ECBdad |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 23:52:58
The Bushnell is a reasonably accurate gun that can be found for around $60. Google bushnell radar gun or check on Ebay.
quote:
Originally posted by JDOG1010
I am looking to buy a radar gun, but i need a reasonably priced one. Does anyone know a good cheap radar gun?
|
| greglomax |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 22:04:11
A good cheap Radar Gun would be the Bushnell Velocity Speed Radar Gun. It runs around $140. You can get one at Sports Authority and several other sporting goods places and websites.
The next step goes to the $700+ range.
The Bushnell Velocity Speed Radar Gun may not be a GREAT radar gun but it is relatively accurate (+/- a few MPH compared to the others). I have one and it works fine. I have checked it by driving down the road with the speedometer set at a constant speed and shoot the sign of an overpass or sign on the side of the road. It is very accurate. For the money it works great.
Here is the description for this unit:
The Bushnell Velocity Speed Radar Gun uses digital technology and DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to provide accurate real-time measurements to +/- 1.0 MPH. The BSPEEDV is a more simplified, yet equally effective, option to our BSPEED. It features easy point-and-shoot operation and can track the speed of a ball from 100 feet making it the ideal tool for tracking everything from pitching speeds to racecars. Other features: Large LCD display, Requires 2 C batteries (not included), Registers BASEBALL / SOFTBALL up to 110 mph (from 100 Feet Away) and AUTO RACING up to 200 mph (from 1300+ Feet Away).
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| diamonddad |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 21:54:28
I have a Bushnell Speedster II and am very happy with it. I paid under $70 for it at http://www.opticsplanet.net. I've compared it on the field with my friends more expensive radar gun (Jugs) and it was always with 1-2 mph of what his was displaying. |
